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LETTERS OF GIDEON 



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Jf PILLOW TO JAMES K. POLK, 

1844 



Edited by 



JESSE S/^EEVES 



REPRINTED FROM THE 



gtm^ian §ii^t0tial §mm 



VOL. XI., No. 4 



JULY, 1906 






^J'JllU^ 



LRepnnted fron, Thk Amkk.can U.s.or.CA.. Kkv.ew, Vol. XI., No. 4, July, .906.] 



DOCUMENTS 

/. Letters of Gideon J. PHIoz.' to James K. Polk, 1S44 
The following letters, written by Gideon J. Pillow to James K. 
Polk immediately before and during the Democratic national con- 
vention of 1844, 'are a part of the collection of Polk Papers recent y 
acquired by the Library of Congress. The letter from Jackson to 
Butler is among the Van Buren Papers, also in the Library of 

Congress. . . 

Van Buren's letter stating his position in opposition to the an- 
nexation of Texas appeared April 20. 1844. It was in complete 
antagonism to the expressed opinion of Jackson upon the same sub- 
ject according to his letter to A. V. Brown, possibly written m 1843 
but not made public until the spring of i8+4- Jackson, of whose 
sincere desire for \^an Buren's nomination there can be no question, 
attempted to neutralize the impression caused by Van Buren s atti- 
tude by a letter to the Nashville Union dated May 13. 1844, m which 
he stated that Van Buren's opposition to the annexation of iexas 
proceeded from a knowledge of the question only as it had existed 
in 1 841 The communication to the Union was followed the next 
dav bv a confidential letter to B. F. Butler, chairman ot the Nevy 
York delegation at the Baltimore convention and Van Buren s per- 
sonal manager. This was given to Donelson, Jackson s nephew, to 
deliver at the convention. After Van Buren's name had been with- 
drawn by Butler, he referred to Jackson's letter as the " prayer of 
Old Hickory for a re-united Democracy ". 

Donelson was accompanied to Washington by Laughhn and Pil- 
low both of them intimate friends of Polk. At Washington they 
met the other delegates from Tennessee. The delegation consisted 
of Pillow, the chairman, Donelson, Laughlin, Alexander Anderson 
(senator in 1840-1841, and a stanch Calhoun man). John Bla.r 
(representative from Tennessee from 1823 to 1835). Taylor, Child- 
ress (Polk's brother-in-law), Powell, and five congressmen from 
Tennessee: Blackwell. Cullom. Andrew Johnson, Cave Johnson, 
and George W. Jones. Pillow's letters show that Polk's ambition 
was limited to the vice-presidency. In the convention o 1840 Polk 
had received the vote of one delegate for the second place on the 
ticket. He had reason to hope for better support at the Baltimore 

(832) 



833 Documents 

convention. The Tennessee state convention, which had expressed 
no preference for the presidency, indorsed Polk for the vice-presi- 
dencv.' In Arkansas \'an Buren and Polk had been selected as the 
choice of the state convention which met in December, 1843. The 
same preference was shown in the vote of the }\Iississippi conven- 
tion held in January, 1844. Polk's name was therefore coupled with 
\'an Buren's, but \'an Buren"s attitude on the question of Texas had 
wholly changed the complexion of affairs. Polk was taken up by 
the Van Buren faction after their candidate had been cut off from 
the nomination by the adoption of the two-thirds rule in order to 
defeat Cass, whose strength was increasing with each ballot. 

Jesse S. Reen'es. 

I. Andrew J.vckson to B. F. Butler of Xew York. 

Hermitage. 
Confidential. May 14th. 1844. 

My dear sir. 

This will be handed to you by my Nephew Major A. J. Donelson who 
goes on to the Baltimore Convention to whom I refer you for the 
political news of the west, and the great excitement. Mr. \'. Burens 
letter has created, and I fear it will be dificult to allay, and reunite the 
democracy in his favour. Clays letter had prostrated him with the 
Whiggs in the South and West, and nine tenths of our population had 
declared in favour of Mr V. Buren and annexation of Texas — when 
this, illfated, letter made its appearence, and fell upon the democracy like 
a thunderbolt. Had it have been in accordence, with the editorial of 
the Globe, all would have been well. All the democrats believed that 
Mr. V. Buren. under the present curcumstances, would have been in 
favour of annexation, but from the present excitement, it will be dificult 
to reconcile those southern and western democrats, all in favour of 
annexation, to Mr. V. B. You might as well, it appears to me. attempt 
to turn the current of the Miss[iss]ippi, as to turn the democracy from 
the annexation of Texas, to the United States, by Joint Resolution, Act 
of Congress, or by Treaty. Had Mr. V. B. and Benton taken a view 
of the population of Texas, where from, and the places of the birth of 
the Texian prisoner[s] at Perote in Mexico, the[y] might have judged 
of the feelings of the South and West. If they had taken into view 
the exposed Situation of Neworleans, with Texas in the hands of Great 
Britain, added to the danger of British influence upon our Western 
Indians, on the event of war, and the dreadful scenes apprehended from 
a servile war, with the Indians combined, on our South and west, — the 

' In a letter written after the Tennessee convention, Polk took pains to 
assure Van Buren that he and eleven of the thirteen delegates selected for the 
Baltimore convention were favorable to Van Buren's candidacy, notwithstanding 
the silence of the state convention. Polk to Van Buren, November 30, 1843, 
Van Buren Papers, Library of Congress. 



Letters of Pilloiv to Polk S34 

feelings of the west might have been well judged of on this Subject. 
Why hesitate to accept the annexation from Texas, [" an independent 
nation " stricken out] with whom all the important nations have treated 
as an independent nation, when we treated with Mexico for a retro- 
cession of that part of Louisiana, now Texas surrendered by that foolish 
Treaty of 1819— without the consent of Spain— extending the same 
rules to Texas as we did to Mexico, why hesitate to receive the profered 
Boon from Texas, as we were ready to receive from Mexico by treaty, 
without waiting for the consent of Spain. But I refer you to Major 
Donelson, and my published letter in the Union in answer to many 
letters reed, on this allengrossing Subject. I must' remark in conclu- 
sion, that I have it in the most positive and authentic form, from the 
highest authority of Te.xas, that if her offer is now re-rejected [5/c], 
Texas is lost to" the United States forever, until regained at the point 
of the Bayonet. That her depressed situation, will, from necessity, 
compel her to seek relief by engagements with some foreighn power— 
that will be England, unless indeed. Congress will gu[a]rantee her 
independence by Legislative enactment." I say to you Frankly, that this 
is the fate of Texas, and nothing can restore Mr V. Burren [sic] But 
such resolution by the democratic convention. I hope for the best. I 
have been greatly grieved at the result. There was no Tyler interest 
.in the South and west— and Mr. \-. B. letter and Col Bentons is the 
only thing that could give him populari-[ty]' in the South or west. 
Such is now the united Sentiment of all in the South and west. Here 
it i.s not viewed as a party question, but the cry is that no candidate for 
the presidency or vice, will be supported, that are not in favor of 
speedy annexation of Texas— it is said delay is dangerous. I am so 
feeble' I can scarcely wield the pen— and much grieved at the late occur- 
rence, when Mr. V. B. would have been elected by almost acclamation 
by the South and West. And my friend Col Benton will not, I fear be 
sustained in his present position. :Missouri, is for speedy annexation, 
regardless of the snriles or frown of foreign nations. The Safety of 
the Republic being the supreme law— and believing that the annexa- 
tion of Texas is es[s]ential to the Safety of the Republic— and the key 
to that safety, being offerred in peace to us by an independent nation, 
it is believed it ought to be speedily received, the door locked fast 
against all future dangers, and [- thereby all danger to " inserted] our 
glorious Union preserved and the harmony and prosperity of the whole 
Union restored. The Union must be preserved, and this step taken I 
have no fears of its disruption by evil men. 

May God bless you my dear friend, and preside over the delibera- 
tions of the convention and confidence by all the democracy again united 
on Mr. V. B. is the sincere prayer of your sincere friend 

Andrew J.\ckson. 
B. F. Butler Esqr. 

' Written " musk remark ". 

' " or Treaty " erased. 

3 End of line with hyphen. Word not finished. 



835 Docmnciits 

P. S. Our friend Benton cannot sustain himself in the position 
taken, for he sustain [e]d the attempt to regain Texas by Treaty from 
Mexico, against the remonstrance, and without the assent of Spain. 
How I regret the present condition of things. Mr. V. B. had the united 
vote of the democracy in the South and West. Clays letter gave him 
two third[s] of the \V[h]iggs — and this prospect dashed to pieces, by 
assuming ground, that we had disregarded as to Spain, when treating 
with Mexico for Texas, and which Col Benton had sustained. My 
regrets are too many, and I close A. J 

[Address:] Benjamin. F. Butler Esqr 

Delegate to the 27th. May Convention at Baltimore 
By Major A. J. Donelson. 

[Indorsement in pencil by Van Buren( ?) :] A J May 14 '44 By Don- 
elson on his way to Convention. 

II. Gideon J. Pillow to James K. Polk. 

Washington City 

May 22nd., 1844 
Dear Govr. 

Myself and Col. Laughlin reached this city yesterday evening. Since 
that time we have been busily engaged exami[ni]ng into the condition 
of things here and though I had expected to find much confusion and 
excitement among our friends, yet I confess myself much surprised at 
the extent of the distractions and the bitterness of feeling which exists 
between the Van Buren men and the disaffected portion of the party. 
This last party I am satisfied is daily gaining strength by the arrival 
of delegations from regions of the country which have been lost by 

V 's' letter. I have spent a good portion of this day in confidential 

consultation with Gov. Bagby' and Wright.' Last night I was with 

Cave J ' The tzuo former, who are the leaders of the V force 

(Benton being excepted) and who represent the feeling and determina- 
tion of the V B Democracy, say they are unable to suggest any 

remedy for the existing state of things. They say the northern Democ- 
racy will never yield up their preference for V and that his name 

will in no event be withdrawn. 

The Democracy or rather the Delegates of the south west and west 
are making an extraordinary effort for Cass and many of them are going 

so far with their opposition to V as to declare they won't go into 

Convention if he is to be the nominee and that they won't support him 
in any event. If they continue to occupy that ground, they will break 
up tlic party and will leave no hope of reconciliation. Among the very 

' Van Buren's. 

= Arthur P. Bagby.' senator from Alabama 1841-1848. 

' Silas Wright of New York. 

* Cave Johnson of Tennessee. 



Letters of Pillow to Polk 836 

worst of these aggitators is [sic] your friends Geo. W. Jones and Genl 
Anderson. The last is doing us great mischief. He wants an office 

from Tyler and is violent in his abuse of V and is for Tyler or any 

body else. I have gone to work to try and get the northern and southern 
branches of the party to agree to meet in convention and to try who is 
the strongest man and to agree to submit to the Decision of the conven- 
tion. I have to night had Powell. Blair, Jones, [and] Blackwell at my 
room, talking and consulting about the plan to be adopted. We have 
fixed upon Tomorrow night for general meeting of our Tennessee dele- 
gation to shape our course of action with an eye single to the restora- 
tion of the re-union of the party and of your nomination. I think we 
shall be able ultimately to get the divisions of the party together in the 
convention, but there [are] some serious difficulties in the way. The 
disaffected say they won't go into Convention unless Two thirds of the 
convention shall be necessary to make a nomination. 

Understanding what would l)e the result of such a principle, the 
other party refuse to make any such agreement— insisting that a ma- 
jority only shall make the nomination. In this attitude the parties now 
stand, abusing each other most bitterly. I do not dispair of union, yet, 
but I confess the prospect is most gloomy. Both parties seem to look 
to you as the probable V P ' There is however so much dis- 
traction and division and difficulty about the ^r.s/— that but little is said 
of the second and I think it now best to use all our influence and power 
to heal the wounds of the party and re-unite it if possible and until that 

is done, say but little about the \' P 

If we do not unite all is lost. If we do unite we will then I feel con- 
fident get your nomination— although old Dick' is here and pressing him- 
self strongly upon the party and actually electioneering with all his 
might. 

You see we have troubles enough. We are certainly in deep water. 
My great effort shall be to conciliate and to hold things in attitude to 
secure your nomination no matter which party may succeed Laughhn 
and myself act together in this view of the case and I think we will be 
able to get all the Tennessee Delegation to co-operate in a silent acquies- 
cence in the action of the Convention except Anderson and possibly 
Jones. No effort shall be left undone. If the party should not be 
totally broken up I think we will get you [on] the ticket. We are 
pretty certainly to have a sort of ticket for Tyler, and we are much 
afraid the disaffected will secede from the convention and join the Tyler 
Convention. 

You see Gov. we are at sea and upon a boisterous one at that. I 
hope to succeed and you may rely upon all my exertions being used for 
that purpose. I have a good deal I should like to explain connected 
with Tyler's game here to use up the Democracy and buy them oft' from 

' Vice-president. > 

2 Richard M. Johnson. 



837 Documents 

V but I can't do it in this letter. I will write you again soon and 

make Laughlin do so to[o]. You shall be kept constantly advised of 

every movement of interest — and when you do not hear from us it will 

[be] because things have assumed no new aspect. Childress arrived 

this evening. Yours 

GiD. J. Pillow 

[Address:] Hon: James K. Polk. Columbia, Tennessee. 

III. Pillow to Polk. 

Washington, May 24d.' 44 
Dear Govr. 

Since my last letter to you our troubles have increased. The anti- 
Van Buren party are becoming stronger and though Van can get. agre- 
ably to the best estimates, I can make, about 145 votes in convention,' 
yet I fear the Two thirds rule will be adopted by the aid of the vote 
of Pennsylvania and that of a part of the Tennessee delegation who 
cant be controuled upon this question. Cass can get, as his friends 
think, about 80 votes on the first ballot and Johnson will get the ballance. 
On the 2nd. ballot Cass' friends think he will take the vote of Pennsyl- 
vania from V which will give him about 106 votes. These esti- 
mates, if correct, you will see render the result exceedingly doubtful. 
The Johnson votes, will go for Cass, which will give him a majority, 
but whether he can get tivo thirds so as to nominate him, under that 
rule is very doubtful. 

The breach between the V 's and anti-\' 's has become im- 
passible. The parties will never meet except upon some other man than 
Cass, unless Cass should have strength enough to carry him through 
under the 2/3 rule. The Tennessee Delegation had a meeting night 
before last. Jones and Andy Johnson i.'cre there and were ready to 

sacrifice you, to get clear of V They both profess to be your 

friends and have been kind enough to say that they are unwilling for 

your naiue to go on V 's ticket. So says Collum [Cullom], and 

some others of your friends, also. 

Upon the subject of the Vice Presidency, not much has been said 
until to day. To day the report has been busily circulated that your 
friends were looking to Benton's and Van's friends for support for 
you, and with some it was even said that a distinct understanding ex- 
isted etc. Having been called upon as your immediate representative 
by several of the disaffected I disclaimed in the most positive terms, 
any such understanding. They then pressed me and hard for our posi- 
tion and said that if Polks friends voted for V they would not 

vote for P . These were a part of the Mississippi and part of the 

North Carolina delegation. I took the position that as we intended to 
place your name before the Convention, we thought it our duty to be 

' Written over " 23d ". 

■Van Buren had 146 on the first ballot. 



Letters of Pilltm< to Polk 838 

modest and not to he active in arraying the parties, that I thought we 
ought not to interfere etc. but that we would cast our votes without ref- 
erence to the \' P etc. and when we had determined upon our 

course as we would before the convention met, it would be known etc. 
The object you will easily understand is to ^orcc me as your friend to 

commit myself against \' and to compel all your friends to do so 

to[o]. What this move will result in I cannot tell. I do not think 

V will get the nomination. I think he will be cut off under the 

2/3 rule — and I much fear the loss of strength to you, in Alabama — 
Miss — North Carolina and Virginia by the position we will be obliged 
to take with reference to the Presidency. 

I am now satisfied that it is contemplated to run Stephenson' for 

the V P on Cass' ticket. This the disaffected deny, but the 

thing is sure to work out that way. If it were not for the present 
organization of parties here and the embarrassment which is brought 
upon you by the Consfiricyf you have more strength with the Democ- 
racy than any man whose name has come before the country, and 
though by the[se] movements I regard everything as thrown into con- 
fusion and uncertainty I would not still be surprised if a compromise 

were finally made by lioth parties taking you up, for the P ' This I 

give as a possability. 

Jones and Anderson are wholly ;•(;/)/(/ and we do not now consult 
with tiiem at all. I saw your letter to C J ' and noted its sug- 
gestions. Medary and his Ohio people we think will certainly go for 

you for V though we can only judge from the intercourse we have. 

Gov. Mo[r]ton of Massachusetts is for you and he says his Delegation 
he thinks will all go for you. The Illinois and Indiana delegation [s] 
are friendly to you — some of the [sic} them particularly of the first men- 
tioned State, are clear for you. It is said Benton, now prefers you. He 
keeps dark on the subject however. It is impossible for me to give you 
even a brief outline of one half I want to wright [sic]. You may con- 
sider every thing. — even the fate of the party — as at sea — every thing 
is doubtful. The foundations of party are all broken up here, and I do 
not believe they will ever be reconciled. You know I am not in this 
state of things idle. There are so many aggitators and reckless men 
who are looking to their own aggrandisement and care nothing for the 
party or the country, that it [is] impossible to controul the inoi'ing mass. 

W'e will spare no effort to get things quieted. C J and all 

our friends are almost in dispair of every thing. W'e shall go to Balti- 
more tomorrow being Saturday. 

Your Friend 

GiD. J. Pillow 

^Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia, Speaker of the House 1827-1834. and min- 
ister to Great Britain 1836-1841. 

■ " The Anti-\'an Euren Conspiracy ". 
^ Presidency. 
* Cave Johnson. 



839 Documents 

W . Pillow to Polk. 

Washington City 
Dear Sir, Saturday 25th. May '44 

A better feeling prevails to day and I think there is now a prospect 
of ultimate union. I regard it almost certain Van Buren cannot get 
the nomination and I think his friends at the north so consider it. 
Some of them say if the Democracy cannot get along with him at the 
south and will fix upon a man upon whom the South will unite, that they 

will support him, and the Disaffected say if the North will withdraw V 

that the North may name the man. These concessions indicate a better 
feeling and will I hope, result in harmonious action. The chief difficulty 
in getting together under this state of feeling grows out of the rival 
claims of Johnson, Cass, Woodbury and others. The South may not 
be able to agree on any man and in this way, we may still have difficulty 
and it may even be possible, that when the disaffected find themselves 
unable to agree upon any other man, they may some of them come back 

to V If V should be withdrawn or beaten in convention, the 

chances are strongly in favour of Cass, unless V 's friends should 

take you up and unite with your friends of the south to defeat Cass. 

You have more friends here than any man in the field and if your 
name had been brought before the Country for the iirsi place, we would 
have had far more unanimity. I am satisfied you are the choice of 
2/3 of the Convention for the \'ice, and almost everyone of your friends 
say they would prefer you for the Presidency. Things may take that 
turn yet. We of the South cannot bring that matter up. If it should 
be done by the North it will all work right, but if we were to make 
such a move it would in all probability injure your prospects for the 
Vice. Almost all the Delegates composing the convention have been 
here. I have made it my special business to become acquainted with 
them and to find out as well as I could, their preference for the J 'ice, 
and I think it is next to impossible to defeat your nomination if the 
Convention ever come to any conclusion at all. You are the choice of 
both branches of the Democratic family beyond all doubt for the \'ice, 
and I do not believe if Stephenson should be brought out, that he can 
defeat your nomination. He certainly cannot unless there should be a 
very extraordinary change in the feelings of the convention. Our dele- 
gation that portion of it which we can manage are still and silent — urg- 
ing harmony and peace and abstaining from all active interference in 
arraying the parties against each other. Powell — Anderson — Jones and 
Blair and Taylor are all determined to go for Cass. Johnson, Laflin, 
myself, Donalson and Childress are still waiting for further develope- 
ments and light, before we act or determine what we will do.' As far 

'Cave lohnson to Polk, May 25, 1844, Polk Papers, Library of Congress: 
" It is probable that Donelson Pillow and myself will scarcely yield Van whilst 
he is kept up by his friends ". Tennessee, however, voted solidly for Cass until 
the eighth ballot, when Polk's name was brought forward. 



84 1 Docunicjits 

vention that I would not at present bring it before the Convention, that 
if it was the will of the Convention the name should be brought out 
by the Xorth. 

There is, I think a strong probability of your name ultimately coming 
up for President. I do not think it prudent to move in that matter now. 
I want the Xorth to bring you forward as a Coinl>romise of all interests. 

Time will alone tell what will be done. You shall hear from us. We 
are aljout adjourning and it is night. 

Yours 

GiD. J. Pillow' 

\T. Pillow to Polk. 

[B.\LTiM0RE.] May 29th. 1844 
Dear Govr. 

On this morning we brought your name before the Convention for 
the Presidency. On the first ballot you received 42 votes — on the 2nd. 
you received 266 votes, being every vote in the Convention. The Dele- 
gates of South Carolina, then made their appearance and pledged the 
State of South Carolina to support and sustain the nomination. Never 

' C/. George Bancroft to I. G. Harris, Newport, R. I., August 30, 1887, 
Bancroft Papers, Lenox Library Building, New York ; "... Polk owed his 
nomination by the Democratic Convention to me. ... I went into the nomi- 
nating convention enjoying the perfect confidence of the delegation of Massa- 
chusetts, confidence that was so great that I might almost call it the power of 
direction. Van Buren lost the nomination by his declaration against the an- 
nexation of Texas, which was not made better by his promising to annex Texas 
if the Democrats were determined to impose that condition on their candidate. In 
this way, by Van Buren *s own acts, it became impossible to name him ; and 
Virginia came out w.th a vote for Cass which was followed by others and was 
rapidly making great headway, and would soon have carried the day in the 
convention. But I knew perfectly well that Cass could not have been elected. 
The hatred and jealousy which Van Buren bore him made it absolutely and 
undisputedly impossible for him to carry the State of New York, and without 
New York his success would have been desperate or rather impossible. Under 
those circumstances, I was the one who of my own mind and choice, first, on 
the adjournment of the nominating convention, for the day, resolved to secure 
the nomination of Polk. I went first and called our own delegation together, 
and they instantly and unanimously agreed with me in his favor. I then went 
and saw the New York delegation, and they also perceived how the case lay ; 
but of course needed to proceed with more caution and more complete defer- 
ence to Mr. Van Buren's wishes that those of any other state : but they looked 
at the case with exactly the same eyes as I did. Van Buren implacably detested 
the thought of Cass as a candidate. I proceeded to the delegation of Tennessee 
and they naturally accepted the name of Polk joyfully and distributed among 
themselves that part of the work which I thought they could best do. We went 
on in this manner ; and I remember perfectly that we had gone to so many 
states with the nomination of Polk, and had met with such success that I knew 
his name would certainly be brought forward the next morning with the cer- 
tainty of his gaining the nomination. . . ." Bancroft wrote Van Buren just 
after the convention that he had " many personal causes for regretting the 
result" (Van Buren Papers. Library of Congress). 

AM. HIST. REV., VOL. XI. — 55. 



Letters of Pillozi' to Polk 840 

as I know or believe or am informed, all \' 's friends are for you. 

We have carefully avoided saying or doing any thing to alienate their 
feelings. If we can retain their strength and your own in the south 
and west, you are safe. 

The Ohio Delegates and the New England Delegates, I think are 
all or nearly so for you. So are New York, but they are very silent. 
C. Johnson is in low spirits about our prospects and seems to have lost 
his energy. I feel confident of your success, unless the convention 
should break up in a row. The Ultra-discontents, who care but little 
about Texas and only use the power of the measure as a lever to turn 
out \"an and to kill off Benton as his successor, are understood now to 
play their game with the view of preventing any nomination — and have 
proposed to have another one in July. But they cannot affect their 
objects. I received yours of the 17th. Inst to day. We will give you 
two annexation men I think. The North has become allarmed at the 
excitement about Texas in the South and say we shall have Texas etc. 
We shall go to Baltimore this evening. I will write you regularly and 
daily if I can. Yours Truly 

GiD. J. Pillow. 

I do not think you have lost a particle of strength by the report of 
which I wrote you in my last. It will endear you to the friends of 

^' and will recoil on the heads of those who started it as slander and 

falsehood. I have not heard it mentioned for nearly 2 days. G. J. P. 

V. Pillow to Polk. 

[B.\LTiM0RE.] May 28th. 44. 
•l/_v Dear Sir 

We have been all day engaged balloting for Candidate for Presi- 
dent. We commenced at 149 for Van and 82 for Cass.' After 6 Bal- 
lotings we now stand 99 for Van and 116 for Cass — 32 for Johnson and 
35 for Buckhannon." \\'e have for 2 hours past had the most extreor- 
dinary excitment in Convention The whole Convention had well-nigh 
got into a general pel-mell fight. The Ohio Delegation produced it all. 
At this moment the excitment is still wholly ungovernable by the Chair. 
If the balloting continues the chances will be for the nomination of 

Cass judging from the present vote. The V B men will not go for 

Cass and the Buckhannon men say they wont. I doubt very much if 
Cass can ever get 2/3 of the votes. I have within the last few minutes 
received a proposition from a leading Delegate of the Pennsylvania and 
of Massachusets to bring your name before the Convention for Presi- 
dent. I said to them that your name was subject to the will of the Con- 

"The first ballot was: Van Buren, 146; Cass, S3; R. M. Johnson, 24; Cal- 
houn. 6 ; Buchanan. 4 ; Woodbury, 2. 

■The sixth ballot was: Van Buren, loi ; Cass, ii6; Johnson, 24; Buchanan, 
25: Calhoun, i. In the seventh ballot Van Buren had 99, Cass 123, Johnson 21, 
Buchanan 22, and Calhoun i. 



Letters of PilUno to Polk 842 

was there such unanimity — never was there such enthusiasm before 
seen or witnessed in any body. I held you up before the Convention, as 
the "Olive Branch of peace", and ail parties ran to you as to an ark 
of safety. 

I was up nearly all night last night in bringing about this result. I 
had many difficulties to encounter. But I faultered not, and this day 
I had the proud satisfaction of witnessing the glorious result — glorious 
beyond the expectation of any of our delegation or friends. 

Silas Wright will be your Vice with almost as much ananim[i]ty 
[sic'\ as you were. What a ticket. How pure, and elevated and Her- 
culian in intellects. I cannot in this letter give you an account of any- 
thing but the result. It is glorious. 

We will sweep every Whig strong hold in the land — we will raise 
the shou -'1 over the land. Yours Truly 

GiD. J. Pillow 

Wrig . is nominated by a vote of 258 votes on first Ballot. Alls 
well and glorious and all is enthusiasm and Union and Harmony. 

G. J. P. 

Vn. Pillow to Polk. 

B.\LTiMORE !May 30th. 1844 
My Dear Sir, 

I wrote you to day giving you the result of the proceedings of this 
day in the Democratic Convention. I wrote under the influence of 
great excitement on my part, and in the Convention. I did not then 
and cannot now give you a full account of the effort made and the 
means used to bring about a result so astounding to every body. It was 
all done last night after my letter was written though I had laid the 
foundation for it yesterday. As I said in my letter of to day I was at 
it nearlv all night. I entered into no Combination — I used no improper 
or dishonourable means. It was the result and force and poii'er of 
circumsta)iccs which I seized hold of and wielded, as I think with no 
little skill and judgement. 

I had good help in some true-men in the Xorth who understood the 
whole game and whose names you shall in due season knoze. 

I got no help on the work which was done last night from our home 
people. I communicated the plan and prospect to some of them and 
they had no faith in the thing and so expressed themselves. I was fully 
convinced it would zi'ork out right — and I worked on until nearly day 
this morning and this morning — the boys did not know what "hurt 
them ". The fatal blow was given, but it was not seen nor known what 
produced such a result — nor where the blow came from. 

I never saw such enthusiasm — such cvultation — such shouting for 
joy. One Spirit — one Soul animates the great party, leaders and all. 
No one doubts the success of the Ticket. Victory is already hovering 
over our banner, which has been spread to the breezes under the lead 
of Polk and Wright. 



843 Documents 

Some of our own faithful delegation — to whom I have referred sev- 
eral times in my letters — who have done all they could in their secret — 
assassin-like manner to destroy your prospects and sacrifice you — are 
overwhelmed with astonishment at this strange result. I shall defer 
giving you particulars until I can see you in person. 

Laughlin has been sick for 2 days and not been able until this after- 
noon to be in the house. 

C Johnson says " I am a great General and that the first war 

we have I shall command the Malitia of Tennessee By God " I decline 
the honour of the compliment, — but as it comes from so stale and sedate 
an old gentleman and is so much out of character with him, I could not 
help telling you of it. 

This morning just before we went into the Ballotting, my move- 
ments during the night had been discovered by a few and powerful 
efforts were made to defeat it by some of your — nozv — would be friends. 
Oh Governor how much good it did me to see the boys over-reached — 
outdone and whipped into the ranks. Every man in the Convention is 
tioiv your icann friend. If you were here you would imagine yourself 
the most popular man in the world, and you would be sure you never 
had an enemy in the convention. You cannot know how much pains 
they take to give in to me their adhesion to you, and to impress me 
with the great merit of their conduct. I am almost ready to conclude 
that your success has made me a great man. Every body wants my 
"address", and desires me to present them and their services in the 
proper point of view to you. I laid the foundation for last nights work 
during the day yesterday. I have written to you freely — fully and 
without the least reserve and desire that all my letters shall be consid- 
ered confidential. I desire this as I do not want to create enemies about 
the matter resulting so gloriously as it has. 

I shall leave here in the morning for Philadelphia and new York 
and will be at home about 15th. June 

Yours 

GiD. J. Pillow 



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